Story Highlights

Editor's note: This is the 11th installment of The Setlist, a weekly roundup of Indiana music news.

The debut EP from Tiara Thomas shows that the Ball State University graduate isn't limited to the unplugged singer-songwriter sound heard on "Bad" (a platinum-selling digital single) and "The Cloud," two earlier collaborations with rapper Wale.

The "Dear Sallie Mae" EP, released on Oct. 8 on major-label Division1/Interscope Records, features hard-hitting beats and pop-friendly production.

If the apparent shift in stylistic direction catches listeners off guard, Thomas notes that she began her career making homemade video interpretations of street-level tunes such as "Let Me Ease Ya Mind," by Lil' Boosie, and "Drank in My Cup," by Kirko Bangz.

"If you go look at my YouTube covers from years ago, I was doing that kind of music," Thomas said. "I was just doing it acoustically. Before I signed my record deal, I didn't really have the means. I didn't have a band. I couldn't just get in the studio with whoever I wanted to and create this sound."

Thomas is back in her hometown of Indianapolis tonight as a supporting act on K. Michelle's "Rebellious Soul" tour. Lawrence North High School alum Thomas will perform at 7 p.m. at the Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave.

"Tell Me Something," a stylish R&B tune that appears on "Dear Sallie Mae," may be the best indicator of what to expect from the album Thomas is making for release in 2014.

"I don't think people have a deadset grasp on what my sound is yet," she said. "I think people are still getting to know me. Once they hear the album, it will be like, 'Oh, OK. Here's what it is.' My main focus right now is piling up really good music and recording it."

After being part of Wale's camp since 2011, Thomas surprised the music industry by signing a recording contract with major label Division1 — an enterprise overseen by songwriter/producer/vocalist Rico Love. Known for producing hits for Usher, Beyonce Knowles and T.I., Love will release a mixtape titled 'El Presidente" on Dec. 9.

Thomas currently splits time between New York City and Miami. She said the former is for work and the latter is for relaxing.

"I was in Portland and everyone was getting around on bikes and longboards and scooters," said Thomas, who eventually purchased a skateboard in Broad Ripple. "It's just really fun."

Show announcements: The 2014 schedule for Klipsch Music Center has its first entry: Journey and the Steve Miller Band will share a bill on June 28. Tickets go on sale Dec. 6. In other concert news, Phish vocalist-guitarist Trey Anastasio will bring the Trey Anastasio Band to the Egyptian Room in Old National Centre on Feb. 15. Tickets go on sale Nov. 22.

New tunes: Fans of '90s-era Weezer will want to check out "Dreamboats," a six-song EP collaboration between Bloomington-based Sleeping Bag and West Virginia-based Rozwell Kid. Independent labels Jurassic Pop (Lafayette, Ind.) and Old Flame (Brooklyn, N.Y.) co-issued "Dreamboats" last month. A video that accompanies the song "Chinchilla" is front-runner for trippiest food clip of the year.

En route to Indiana: Forever known as the Monkee who wore the wool hat, Michael Nesmith bucked that group's "Prefab Four" tag to write enduring tunes "Different Drum," "Joanne" and "Listen to the Band." Nesmith will make a rare Indiana appearance when he plays a solo show on Nov. 22 at Bloomington's Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets, $40 to $65, are available at BCTboxoffice.com.

Contact Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404 or @317Lindquist on Twitter.